Unlocking Innovation: The 3D Printing FGF Engineering Challenge

02 Feb, 2024

Unlocking Innovation: The 3D Printing FGF Engineering Challenge

A Call to Innovate Across Mobility, Assistive Tech, Robotics, and More

The 3D Printing Fused Granulate Fabrication (FGF) Engineering Challenge, hosted by Mitsubishi Chemical Group, seeks to harness the transformative potential of 3D printing with granulates, inviting startups, scaleups, and established companies to contribute their pioneering ideas. This article outlines the challenge's scope, emphasizing its unique opportunity for innovators to push the boundaries of additive manufacturing.

The challenge encourages the exploration of FGF technology across various domains, including mobility, assistive technology, maritime, and robotics. Participants are invited to envision applications that could lead to significant advancements in efficiency, sustainability, and functionality.

Learn more

Maritime and Robotics: Navigating New Waters

From the development of more efficient yacht hulls to the creation of durable components for ships, the maritime industry stands to benefit greatly from FGF applications. Robotics, too, presents a fertile ground for innovation, with potential entries focusing on improving manufacturing processes or enhancing everyday life through home automation systems.

Mobility and Assistive Technology: Shaping the Future

The mobility sector could see innovations such as sustainable automotive parts for electric vehicles, enhancing performance while reducing environmental impact. In assistive technology, there's a vast field open for creating more adaptive prosthetics and mobility aids, potentially transforming lives with FGF's precision and versatility.

Furniture Design: Rethinking Form and Function

The challenge also welcomes ideas that reimagine furniture design, merging aesthetics with environmental sustainability. From ergonomic office solutions to modular systems, FGF technology offers a pathway to furniture that combines innovative design with practicality.

Jury Partners

Highlighting the challenge's collaborative nature, the jury comprises experts from esteemed institutions and companies, including Alstom, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, CEAD Group, ADAXIS, Belotti SpA, FIS Robotics, Haddy, Nedcam, Filament Innovations, Arizona State University, and The Global Kaiteki Center. Their involvement ensures that submissions are evaluated by leading figures in the field, offering participants a unique opportunity for visibility and feedback.

Conclusion

The 3D Printing Fused Granulate Fabrication (FGF) Engineering Challenge has highlighted the vast and diverse applications of FGF technology. From enhancing mobility and assistive technologies to innovating in the fields of maritime, robotics, furniture, and sports equipment, FGF is showing its potential to revolutionize various industries.

Don't forget, the closure date for the 3D Printing FGF Engineering Challenge is on February 14th!

Have a project or idea?

Submit now!

Ready to explore the possibilities of 3D Printing Fused Granulate Fabrication (FGF) for your product or application?

The 3D Printing Fused Granulate Fabrication Engineering Challenge invites startups, scaleups and innovative companies to explore the possibilities of 3D Printing with granulates (pellets) and win $25,000 in manufacturing and business support to scale their projects.

Who can enter?

We are inviting innovative startups, scaleups, and established companies that are:

Inexperienced with 3D Printing and wish to explore the possibilities with 3D Printing FGF for prototyping or small series production.
Experienced with 3D Printing (FFF) and are interested in testing, implementing, and switching to FGF.
Experienced with 3D Printing that seek to integrate FGF with hybrid technologies like continuous carbon-fiber-based composites.

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PLA vs ABS: Which filament should one use?

A comparison of the two most popular filaments

Tess Boissonneault

23 Apr, 2021

3D Printing

- additive manufacturing

- materials

Polylactic acid (PLA) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) filaments are two of the most commonly used plastics in additive manufacturing due to the low cost of the materials, their relative ease of printing, and their mechanical properties.

In this article, we will be taking a closer look at the two filament types, diving into the FFF printing process as well as PLA vs ABS respective material properties to help you make an informed decision when it comes to choosing 3D printing filaments.

3D Printing Thermoplastics

Both ABS and PLA fall into the category of thermoplastics, which are polymers characterized by the ability to change state from molten plastic to solid plastic, and back again when reheated to a particular melting point. This is opposed to thermoset plastics, which cannot be remelted once the plastic has cooled and set.[1]

Thermoplastics are commonly used in 3D printing for a number of reasons. First, the raw materials are relatively low cost. Second, thermoplastics can be easily processed into different feedstock types. For instance, to form pellets or filament from a thermoplastic, the material must simply be melted down and processed using specific tooling to obtain the desired shape. Once it is cooled into the shape of the feedstock, the material is packaged and distributed to customers, who can feed the material into their 3D printer, which will re-melt it and extrude it into the desired final shape based on a 3D model.

Being able to change back into a molten state does have one obvious drawback however: thermoplastics tend to soften and melt when they get hot, which means that the working environment for your additively manufactured thermoplastics should be below the melting point of the plastic. This is the main limitation of using thermoplastics.

Introduction to PLA

PLA is a type of thermoplastic derived from renewable resources, such as corn starch, tapioca roots, or sugarcane. This m

Image: PETG vs PLA often comes down to the needs of the project

PETG vs PLA: Differences and Comparison

PETG vs PLA is a question asked by many newcomers to FFF 3D printing, with both materials offering important benefits. Choosing between them often comes down to the requirements of the project.

Tasos Polygenis

06 May, 2021

3D Printing

- additive manufacturing

- materials

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a process that creates three-dimensional objects from a digital file. It involves layering materials, such as plastic or metal, to create complex shapes and structures that would be difficult to achieve with traditional manufacturing methods. The choice of material is crucial in 3D printing as it determines the properties and the quality of the final product.

In the realm of low-cost FFF/FDM 3D printing, two thermoplastics often stand out due to their helpful properties and widespread use: Polylactic Acid (PLA) and Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol-modified (PETG). PLA is a biodegradable thermoplastic derived from renewable resources like cornstarch or sugarcane, while PETG is a variant of the commonly used Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), modified with glycol to make it more suitable for 3D printing. Since both materials are user-friendly and versatile, the question of PETG vs PLA comes up a lot for 3D printer users.

The PETG vs PLA question depends on various factors, including the object's intended use, the printer's capabilities, and environmental conditions. Each material has its strengths and weaknesses, and understanding these can help you choose the right material for your 3D printing project.

What is PLA?

PLA can be made from sugarcane and other natural sources

PLA, or Polylactic Acid, is a type of plastic that is derived from renewable resources such as corn starch or sugarcane.[1] Unlike plastics that are derived from petroleum, PLA is biodegradable under the right conditions and has a low level of toxicity, making it a more environmentally friendly option.

The process of creating PLA involves fermenting plant sugars to produce lactic acid, which is then polymerized to create polylactic acid.[2] The resulting material is a thermoplastic, meaning it becomes soft and moldable when heated and hardens when co